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<title>Sort Criteria Structure</title>
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<h1>SortKey</h1>

<p>A sort definition consisting of an expression and sort 
direction.</p>

<h3>Description</h3>

<p>Report sorting and group sorting is defined as a series 
of column, sort direction pairs. Each pair is a Sort Criteria structure.</p>

<h3>See Also</h3>

<h2 class="property">key</h2>

<p>An expression that gives the sort key on which to 
sort.</p>

<h3>Description</h3>

<p>An expression that gives the sort key on which to sort. 
The simplest case is the name of a column. The expression can also be an 
expression that includes columns. When used for a group, the expression can 
contain an aggregate computed over the group.</p>

<p>Expressions that include only a column name are 
candidates for &quot;pushing&quot; into the data set. However, sort keys that are 
expressions must be evaluated within BIRT, and so the sorting itself must occur 
within BIRT.</p>

<h3>See Also</h3>

<h2 class="property">direction</h2>

<p>The sort direction: Ascending (the default) or Descending.</p>

<h3>Choices</h3>

<ul>
<li>asc: Sort values from lowest 
    to highest.</li>
<li>desc: Sort values from 
    highest to lowest.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Description</h3>

<p>The sort direction: Ascending (the default) or 
Descending.</p>

<h3>See Also</h3>
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